#4 on Fred Minnick's 2025 Top 100
Whiskey expert and author Fred Minnick ranked Founder's Reserve 2025 #4 on his 2025 Top 100 American Whiskey Ranking, calling it the "most unique whiskey in this entire line-up...grain-forward, nuanced, and very special."
American Single Malt Whiskey
Aged in the World’s Coldest Oak™
By distilling malted barley, as in Scotch, and aging the whiskey in charred Minnesota white oak casks, as in Bourbon, Brother Justus Whiskey brings together two traditions to create a distinctly American Single Malt. The result is a whiskey that’s approachable yet complex — shaped by close attention, subtle adjustments, and the discipline to know when to intervene and when to wait. Restraint isn’t absence, it’s intention.
Available online and in stores.
Recognition Earned Along the Way
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“How Brother Justus Transformed American Single Malt Peated Whiskey”
Forbes -
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“Why Brother Justus Is the Most Interesting Whiskey in America”
Inside Hook -
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“Top Innovative Spirits of 2023”
The Spirits Business -
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World Spirits Competition - Double Gold Medal and Best in Class Finalist
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2023 ASCOT AWARDS - Platinum Medal, American Single Malt
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2023 SIP Awards - Innovation Award
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The Fifty Best 2024 - Gold Medal, American Single Malt Whiskey
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SIP Awards - Double Gold Medal, Cold-Peated American Whiskey
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2023 International Whiskey Competition - Best Minnesota Whiskey
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“12 Best Peated Whiskies in the World”
HICONSUMPTION -
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Beverage Tasting Institute - Gold Medal in Innovative and Experimental Spirits
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New York International Spirits Competition - Minnesota Distillery of the Year
Minnesota Is Where It All Comes Together
Minnesota is the only state where four bioregions converge, creating an ideal foundation for whiskey shaped by land, climate, and time — found nowhere else.
The Great Plains
Prairie soil ideal for cultivating barley.
The Oak Savanna
Home to the world’s coldest oak™.
The Boreal Forest
Bogs rich with ancient peat.
The Mississippi Headwaters
Cold, clean water at the source.
Born of northern soil and crafted for those who value depth over noise.
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Each expression offers a distinct and memorable tasting experience... Whether you’re a seasoned whiskey enthusiast or a newcomer to American single malts, Brother Justus whiskeys provide a delightful journey into the world of premium craft spirits.
— Joseph V Micallef, Forbes
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Brother Justus founder Phil Steger told us that his original goal when he founded the Minneapolis-based distillery was to produce the quintessential “single malt whiskey in the world…that captures the flavors, landscape and the climate of Minnesota.” We at Worth believe he succeeded.
— Beau Draghiciu, Worth Magazine
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Minnesota-based distillery Brother Justus taps its Great Plains and boreal forest surroundings for locally-sourced barley and peat, respectively, and is one of the few American names to do so - even the barrels are made from Minnesota oak ... Rather than burning the peat, the peat sits inside the whiskey, which imparts a greater depth of flavor.
- Ethan Brehm, HICONSUMPTION -
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A beautifully complex and delicious take on American Single Malt that is unlike any Malt Whiskey previously experienced.
— Tastings.com
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If you’ve got a full body robusto cigar you’ve been meaning to light up on a cold Minnesota evening, this whiskey would be nearly a perfect pairing.
— Charles Steel, The Whiskey Wash
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…Brother Justus is making some of the most interesting, delightful whiskeys I’ve ever tasted.
— Jess Fleming, Pioneer Press
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If you have not had anything from Brother Justus you should think about giving it a try. This is what any American Single Malt should be judged from.
— Al, on Wiskeyer's Single Barrel Select
Upcoming Events
From experiences at our Northeast Minneapolis Distillery to tastings throughout the community, our events invite you to slow down, connect, and experience Brother Justus Whiskey beyond the bottle.
